Swift sat back against the wall and collapsed, his heart beating through his chest. just a moment ago a giant demonic leg has pierced his chest, slamming him into the floor. The fast recovery of the troll liquid healing potion had brought him back with enough time to shoot fire at his enemy. 

The dryad tried to move the rocks that blocked the entrance, the rocks resonating with her strange magic. Then she stopped.

"Curses," She said. " It appears that moving these rocks would affect the whole area's structural integrity. In fact, the area we are in would undoubtedly collapse." She added and returned to the group.

Adi used his ability to sense mana whilst checking his map and casually said. "I guess the only way is through."

Adil tried to not focus on the fear he had slowly growing in him. Unknown to the others, Adil had looked further ahead, sensing the extent to which the corruption had spread. The vast amount of power emanating from the space they were walking towards appeared overpowering, an endless dark madness but more than that, when he gazed into the depths he felt something looking back.

"All yours, you've earnt it." Adil said to Swift, looking down at the mutated wolfs corpse.

Suddenly Swift shot flame out and burnt away part of the wall. 

"The wall held eyes." said bluntly.

A slime-like creature fell from the cave wall. Burning still whilst it lay on the floor. Patches of darkness the were hiding next to the shadows seemed to recede from the area. Showing just how much death they had entered into.

"It's death notification called it *shirime*" Swift said matter of factly.

"Described as eyes born from the taint," Swift added. The others grew further silent feeling ever more unprepared for the horrors awaiting them. Adil felt a bang of guilt he could not sense the creatures easily enough to find them.

Swift then went over to the mutated wolf and held out his hand, collapsing the creature in a bright flash as the tendrils of energy shot out and collapsed it. Facilitated by the purpose of Swift's essence it formed into a shimmering cloak. 

Acquired item    State         essence level

Infernal shroud    unyielding       Ancient

Effects:

A cloak made from the essence of beast one with darkness and death. The cloak will absorb mana and enhance the power of the user through it igniting in a protective fire. 

Swift picked up the leathery cloak and wrapped it around himself. When he let forth a spark of energy it ignited in a cascade of sparks until it became a coat of flames. Spinning it around he appeared to be a spiral of fire.

He let the fire disappear and said. "not bad."

They approached the next area, a tunnel from this area that wen further down. Adil sensed a strong collection of essence. A presence that was both large and powerful. Contained in one place, waiting.

"Wait." he said to the others and sat down in a meditative position. He felt the draft through the cave and the essence that came with it like a quiet before a storm bringing with it the feeling of dormant chaos.  He peered into the other space and saw it waiting.

 Whatever the beast was before, the taint had transformed it into something unrecognizable. Its skin exuded thin cascading darkness but shone with a tint of red. The jagged patterns of black and red tribally mixing across the creatures surface. It was large and fat reaching over eight feet. Two horns ornately curved out from its forehead matching its vicious teeth. Its furrowed expression hid its eyes in shadow. in its hand, it held a black spiked club 5 foot in length, coated in a wreathing mass of dark essence.

Adil opened his eyes and looked towards the group.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"There better not be something on that ceiling," Swift said.

"I have some good news and some bad." 

"Enough of your shit Adil, tell us what's down there."

"Well, something bigger than what we just killed, and the strangest thing is. It's just waiting for us."

"We're being toyed with," Seras said to the group.

"They knew we were here from the start. We weren't prepared and fell into their trap."  Swift reinforced.

"They say a bad decision is better than no decision," Adil said trying to keep the mood light.

"How are you helping." She added. 

"Powerful squires you may be, but you are still fools."

 Morganna turned tot he group "We need to move, we can think of something else when there are other options."The dryad said.

"Seras go in first, the dryad and I will support whilst you tank. Then Swift will be the heavy weapons."

Seras walked forward axe's drawn. "Obviously." She said taking the lead.

They stepped into the room ready information. The ogre-like being stared down at them, it was breathing a fiery black gas from its mouth, trailing away.  The bodies of deceased armoured goblins lay scattered away from the beast.

Seras ran in singing with both axes, as the ogre went to swipe the dryad moved Seras out the way, avoiding a large spiky club that left a trail of black. Fire shot out from swift and scarred the beast as he shot across its front whilst Adil charged an arrow.

Seras went in again, as the Ogre roared from the fire. A slice to the leg and the ogre took a knee looking around to Seras. Then it let forth a guttural roar resonating an aura of dark red. Adils arrows shot it in the face and explosion on impact. The beast charged the back line aiming for Swift and the dryad.

"Now," Seras said and went out the way. A gust was burst forward as the ogre drew closer. It braced the wind holding off against the stream of air and force the mage pressed against it. Swift charged his fire and then shot into the torrent. A bursting fire flew against the ogre and it held up its free hand to brace it. When the gust ended the free arm of the ogre collapsed to dust, but he was still there holding his club he took a step and swung forward at Swift. The Dryad held out her staff and forced the club to stop, but it was too late. Swift igniting his cloak was battered by the club as he moved out the way, he flew back, coated in the fire of his cloak and appeared alright. He managed to stand up and face the beast again, seeing it struggle against the dryads magic.

Seras came out charging at him and sliced into his back, chopping at its side. The Ogre roared pulling back his club to swing away at Seras before again looking to Swift. Another arrow struck the ogre's leg and an explosion made him collapse to the floor. It let out a final roar when Swift had finally charged enough of his mana he could shoot out a final burst. Leaving nothing but the charcoal body of the beast and its corrupted club behind. A scream echoed from further into the depths.

Enemy slain    XP     

mutated troll     400

(stage 6 )

"They're aiming for Swift." Seras said panting.

"They must have a hive mind. something that connects them all. Maybe they think if Swift is gone they can infect us." Adil replied.

Seras walked over to the Ogre corpse. She stuck her hand into its chest punching through the rocky charcoal and began to absorb its essence.  The power of the creature seemed to glow within the cracks of the corpse before the tendrils came out. Shooting into the club it took a new form. A two-handed axe of a distinct ornate design. a thick chaotic pattern coating all but the shine of the blade.

Acquired item    State           essence level

Demonic battle-axe  Self-healing          Ancient

Effects:

An axe born from the fury of a powerful beast corrupted into solid darkness. Hits with this weapon create an aftereffect explosion, rupturing the world around it. 

Seras looked pretty happy with her to find and slot it next to her others.

"Never have enough axes. If we live through this, it'll be so worth." She said.

Another eye popped out of the wall before Swift managed to shoot it down. "Got you fucker," Swift said. Trying to loot it he got nothing.

There was a roar from below. Cascading sounds of movement started echoing from the tunnel before them.

"I think they figured out we can loot." Adil said. 

"Quickly, we must move!" Morganna exclaimed.

The went forward and took a right from the pathway as Adil lead them towards a place of least concentration. They heard movement from all around.

"That thing about structural integrity. Is there any way you can shut off those paths." Adil said pointing to specific areas around the cave.

"it will create much danger for us." She said. 

"Hurry. We have to do something." he insisted. 

She went to a few paths and focused on the rocks. She raised her staff and started pulsating flashes of black and white light. The movement became closer accompanied by the gnarling thrashing sounds of deranged beasts. Before it was too late Seras smashed her new axe into the wall just to see the light of a corrupted wolf stare at them an after-explosion shook the side of the cave and the ceiling began to collapse. 

Surrounded by the magic of Morganna and the helping gusts of wind they managed to stay safe seeing the path fall. 

Seras collapsed to the floor as tendrils of essence seem to fall into her from beyond the path. She had levelled up.

"Your power is vast, and your potential appears endless." The dryad said to the group.

"you're not so bad yourself." Swift said to the dryad. Seeing the faint sign of a blush.

"The power I have was accumulated over a much longer time." She replied.

They looked at the paths before them, and after Adil had checked both his map and sense of mana he pointed them in another direction to go.